Introducing our newest feature, Women in Sport Wednesday’s! This campaign celebrates our female 2020 Ontario Champions, highlighting their accomplishments in the sport, how their passion for golf came to be, and some interesting facts about each champion.
First up on the tee, we welcome the 2020 Ontario Junior (U19) and Juvenile (U17) Girl’s Champion, Katie Cranston. Cranston is on the 2021 Team Canada National Junior Squad and is a former member of Team Ontario.
Read the full interview with Cranston below…
- How did you get into Golf?
Growing up and in middle school, I played every single sport my school offered. When I was in grade four or five, the school brought in a golf program and seeing as I participated in every other sport, I asked my Mom if I could do this as well. And she said yes, she would buy me the golf clubs if I used them in the summer. And so I did about 8-weeks of summer golf camp and I’ve just loved it ever since!
- Why are you so passionate about golf? What does the sport do for you?
I find golf a lot more interesting than other sports I’ve played. I feel like every day there’s something new and you play a different course every week. It’s an interesting and fun sport because it’s not as easily mastered, so it never gets old for me! I definitely think it’s something I can pursue to hopefully make the LPGA someday.
- What are your top 3 favorite golf courses?
- Wooden Sticks GC – It’s definitely up there!
- Shelburne G&CC – Katie won the 2020 Ontario Junior (U19) and Juvenile (U17) Girls’ Championship at Shelburne G&CC in August.
- Oakville GC – Shout out to the home course.
- Favorite club in your bag?
Driver.
- How do you mark your ball?
Two blue dots beside the numbers.
- Biggest accomplishments to date?
- Making Team Canada, 2021 Olympic Squad – 2021 National Junior Squad (Golf Canada)
- Winning the 2020 Ontario Junior (U19) Girls’ Championship.
- Katie also went home with the 2020 Ontario Juvenile (U17) Girls’ Championship title.
- Making Team Ontario – Team Ontario athlete, 2019-2020 season (Golf Ontario)
- 2021 Orlando International Amateur for Juniors, Junior Girls’ Champion – finished with one-under par and a total of 215 thru three rounds.
- What’s your pre-tournament routine? How do you get into the right headspace?
I like to listen to music before getting to the course and I try to keep to myself as much as I can while I’m warming up. This helps me get in the zone.
- If you could play a round of golf with anyone, who would be in your foursome?
- Tiger Woods – PGA tour
- Nelly Korda – LPGA Tour
- Adam Sandler (Happy Gilmore)
- Who’s your favorite golfer to watch?
Brooke Henderson
- Goals for 2021?
- Repeat win at the 2021 Ontario Junior (U19) Girls’ Championship
- Top 5 at the 2021 Canadian Junior Girls’ Championship
- Shoot a low score of (66) in a tournament round
Read more about Cranston’s 2020 Ontario Junior (U19) Girls’ Championship win, here.
Read more about Cranston and the 2021 Team Canada National Junior Squad, here.
About The Ontario Junior (U19) Girls’ Championship
First contested in 1927, the Ontario Junior (U19) Girls’ Championship features Ontario’s best amateur female golfers age 18 and under. The event consists of 72 holes of stroke play competition.
The championship has a rich history of young Ontarians who have gone on to have successful golf careers, such as World Golf Hall of Fame member Marlene Stewart Streit (1951, 1952). Other notable winners include, Sandra Post (1965, 1966), Sue Hilton (1962), Alena Sharp (1997, 1998), Jessica Shepley (2001), Jennifer Kirby (2008, 2009), and Brooke Henderson (2011, 2012).
About Golf Ontario
Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance, and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 450-member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact, to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to shaping lives through Golf.
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To stay informed on Golf Ontario’s championship play, events, and additional updates, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook.
For more information please contact:
Brianna Christopher, Assistant, Marketing Communications.
Golf Ontario
BChristopher@gao.ca
Peter MacKellar, Manager, Marketing and Communications.
Golf Ontario
PMacKellar@gao.ca
